Clamp and method of making the same



March 6, 1956 c. o. LARSON 2,737,215

CLAMP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Dec. 29, 1951 INVENTOR.

03 7 25 Qfim'am United States Patent CLAMP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, Ill.

Application December 29, 1951, Serial No. 264,100

3 Claims. (Cl. 144-304) This invention relates to clamps, and more particularly, though not necessarily, to the C-shaped clamp.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a clamp, preferably of G-shaped formation formed of a sheet metal, or appropriate material, stamped and formed so that the free ends of the C-shaped blank are suitably rolled over onto themselves to provide a pair of barrel-like ends the central axes of which are in alignment and wherein one of the rolled over ends or sleeves is formed with an integral circular projection bendable over to form an anvil and wherein the other circular sleeve is provided with an internal thread to receive a screw threaded rod carrying a freely turnable swivel head at its inner end and provided with an integral, preferably ring-like, turning member at the other end, so that upon rotation of the screw carrying the head, a device to be held may be quickly clamped in desired position between the swivel head and anvil.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a sheet metal blank of steel, or appropriate material, which may be stamped from such sheet material in a single operation and wherein the C-shaped body of the blank in the same operation is provided with a reinforcing embossment and one of the two free ends of the C-shaped member is provided simultaneously with an integral circular projection; the other free end then or thereafter has a series of threads rolled thereonto, whereby when the two ends are suitably rolled upon themselves, they form a pair of tubular bearings the axes of which are in alignment, and by bending over the circular projection to close the inner end of the sleeve, one of the sleeves will be provided with an integral anvil, and wherein the other barrel member. will be provided with internal threads, adaptable to receive a threaded shank formed at one end of the turning member and provided at its inner end opposite the anvil with a turnable swivel head forming a clamp member for clamping upon turning of the threaded member, any desired object between the anvil and swivel head.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the perusal of the following specifications when taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved clamp;

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective side view of the blank after it is formed into a partial anvil; and

Figure 6 is a detailed view of the swivel head and its connection to the screw.

As will be seen from the drawings, the clamp comprises generally a preferably C-shaped body 2 which is desirably formed of a steel stamping but which may be formed of any appropriate material which possesses a suificient ruggedness and durability. In the present in stance, it is preferred to stamp this body in the form shown in Figure 5 from sheet steel, a number of the blanks being formed either at a single stamping or from suitably prepared strips and wherein the blanks are stamped successively. Each blank will include the general outline shown in Figure 5, wherein the anvil-like projection 18 is formed integrally with and at the time that the remaining portion of the blank is stamped; at the same time, the corrugations 4, 6, and 8 are provided. After the blank of Figure 5 is formed, the projection, or leg 16 thereof is subjected to a thread rolling action to produce the thread 16, after which the leg portions 14 and 16 are curled in a manner well known in the art to produce the sleeve portions 14 and 22 in the manner hereinbefore described. If desired, instead of rolling the threads 26 as hereinbefore set forth, the threads may be formed by a subsequent thread tapping operation.

With respect to the integral anvil 18, the same is bent over after the sleeve portion 14 is rolled, and then the edge of the anvil may be welded arcuately as shown in Figure 3, if desired. I have found that the provision of an integral anvil 18 formed in the manner herein shown is a very economical way of producing an anvil and is far superior to the provision of my alternate construction of forming the anvil separately with a shank secured in the sleeve 14. In some instances, a disk such as 18 formed completely separately from the leg 14 may be welded to the end edges of the sleeve 14 after being rolled up, but it is preferred to form the anvil 18 in the manner shown in Figure 5 and bent over as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

During the stamping of the blank end 16 and before the thread is tapped or rolled therein, I prefer to punch an oiling hole 21 in the leg 16 of the blank either after or at the time the blank of Figure 5 is stamped out of sheet metal, so that when the free end 16 is curled in the form of the sleeve 22, the oiling hole will be formed uppermost, as shown in Figure 1.

This oiling hole may be formed at any time during the processing of the blank shown in Figure 5. I prefer instead of rolling the thread 16 on the blank, to tap the thread after sleeve 22 is formed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A blank of sheet steel having substantially a C-shape and adapted to be formed into the body of a C-clamp, the body of said blank and a portion of each of the legs being provided with strengthening corrugations, the legs of said blank extending substantially in parallel relation, and one of said legs on the side adjacent the other leg and substantially midway of said side having an integral projection thereon a peripheral portion of which is arcuate.

2. A blank of sheet steel formed substantially of C- shape, the legs of said C-shaped blank extending substan tially in parallel spaced relation, one of the legs having an integral lateral projection disposed substantially midway the length of the leg on the side adjacent the other leg, said projection having an outer arcuate free edge.

3. The herein described process of forming a clamp frame which provides stamping a blank of sheet steel into substantially G-shaped formation of singls thickness, rolling one of the ends of one of the legs of the c-shaped formation with the thread on one face of the blank and curling said leg upon itself to provide a sleeve wherein the rolled thread is internally located in the sleeve, forming the other leg of the C-shaped blank adjacent its outer end with a lateral integrally formed disk-like projection, thereafter curling said end upon itself to form a sleeve and bending the disk-like projection at right angles to the axis of the greater portion to form an integral anvil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 946,369 Judy Ian. 11, 1910 1,506,481 Gratfam Aug. 26, 1924 1,598,417 Babitt Aug. 31, 1926 1,747,005 Hawthorne et al. Feb. 11, 1930 1,894,805 Raymond Mar. 15, 1932 2,238,831 Steach Apr. 15, 1941 

